Netball World Cup 2023: Reserves drive Diamonds preparations for Cup opener
She was one of the heroes when the Diamonds regained gold in Birmingham last year and while Kate Moloney will play a different role at the World Cup it will be no less important.
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Kate Moloney’s actions after finding out she had not made the Diamonds World Cup squad probably tell you everything you need to know about the midcourter.
If you hadn’t seen the stirring speeches from the Melbourne Vixens co-captain; hadn’t watched the enormous part she played in Australia’s campaign to win back the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham last year; hadn’t seen the way she throws herself around the court in a desperate bid to win back any ball for your team; it might seem surprising.
But few of those who know Moloney would be surprised to find out that one of the first people she messaged when she learned of her Diamonds axing, was her replacement Jamie Lee Price.
Moloney had been in exactly the same situation as Price a year earlier, winning the final midcourt spot in the Commonwealth Games team with Price a travelling reserve.
Australia possesses one of the deepest and most talented midcourts in world netball.
Squad members Moloney, Maddy Proud and Amy Parmenter would walk on to just about any other team in world netball.
The fact that they miss out here only underlines the incredible depth Australian netball possesses.
That’s little consolation for Moloney though, who will play a crucial yet somewhat unrewarding role for the Diamonds at the World Cup in South Africa from this week.
As a reserve, Moloney will be intimately involved in preparing the team for World Cup success, yet won’t hit the court unless disaster strikes.
“I’ve been a reserve before (but) it’s a little bit different this time,” Moloney said.
“Usually you train with the group up until a couple of days before (the tournament) and then you head off.
“(This time around) you train with everyone, make sure that you provide the best preparation for the girls leading into that very first game and then once the competition kicks off, the three of us keep training.
“You don’t wish anything (ill) on anyone but we have to be ready just in case we’re needed at any stage - and I guess we saw that with what happened to Paige (Hadley) at the Commonwealth Games last year.”
Hadley headed into the Games with a minor calf strain that became a major issue shortly into the tournament.
But with rules at that stage preventing teams from switching their reserves into action, Australia was unable to bring Price into the tournament.
“I think it’s great that we’ve taken this direction but our job is just to be there to help prepare the group as much as we can and then we’ll be their number one support crew once the first game kicks off and hopefully watch them go all the way and win that gold medal,” Moloney said.
A photo of Moloney and Price captured before the round 14 Super Netball game between the Vixens and Giants says everything about the pair’s relationship.
The pic was snapped before Diamonds coach Stacy Marinkovich had released her World Cup squad, although the players had already been informed whether they had made the team.
The embrace between Price and Moloney - two fierce competitors on the court, yet respected friends and colleagues off it - spoke to the relationships that bind the Diamonds and ones they hope will drive them to a World Cup.
“I’ve been in both positions. I know how tough it is,” Moloney said.
“Jamie had a great SSN (Super Netball) season and she was probably one of the first people that I messaged.
“It’s really tough not being selected but at the same time, I was happy for her as well. I know how hard it would have been for her at Comm Games last year and as bittersweet as it is, I was just saying congrats to her for making it.
“Sometimes it’s harder when you’re the one that makes the team.
“You don’t want to message and be like, sorry, you didn’t make it. So I just wanted to be the first one to do that and show her that it was all right and as tough as it was, I was also really excited and happy for her as well.”
The Diamonds open their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in South Africa on Friday.
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Originally published as Netball World Cup 2023: Reserves drive Diamonds preparations for Cup opener
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